Worcester, MA --- Worcester State freshman Megan Shepard (Middletown, CT) and junior Brooke Michanczyk (Middletown, CT) posted two wins in their respective singles matches to help score the final two points of the match as the Lancers edged out Southern Maine, 5-4, in Little East Conference women's tennis action this afternoon at Clark University.

With the win the Blue and Gold improve to 5-7 overall while the Huskies drop to 7-7. Both squads now sport identical 2-5 marks in LEC play. The win helps WSU keep their LEC Tournament playoff hopes alive with one game left in the season to play tomorrow against UMass Boston at Assumption at 12 PM.

USM junior Mary Moran (Windham, ME) and classmate Emily Boutin (Old Town, ME) earned the 8-4 win at first doubles while freshman Courtney Aldrich (Lewiston, ME) and second-year Molly Morrill (Litchfield, ME) teamed for the 8-2 victory in the second flight.

But the Blue and Gold would only trail 2-1 on the board after doubles as Michanczyk and junior Laura Sarkis (W. Springfield, MA) dispatched of their opponents at third doubles, 8-2.

That set the stage for the Lancers to take home victories in four of six matches in solo play.

Sophomore Miranda Biron (Webster, MA) got things started with the 6-0 and 6-2 win at fifth singles and Sarkis upped her season record to 8-4 with a 6-2 and 6-1 triumph as the sixth seed.

After Moran won at the top flight 7-5 and 6-1 and Boutin notched the second seed victory, 6-1 and 6-1, Southern Maine made the score 4-3 with two games left.

With both squads watching the action, Michanczyk won her fourth singles match 7-5 and 7-6 – including the tie-breaker, 8-6, and Shepard added the match clincher to come from behind at third singles, 1-6, 6-1 and 6-4.

The contest marked the regular-season finale for USM. Should the Lancers fall tomorrow against the Beacons, the Huskies will earn the sixth seed in the LEC Tournament.